News & Notes: Union

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (0-1-0, 0 pts.) travels down the I-95 corridor this Saturday, March 15, for the first of this year’s three meetings against the Philadelphia Union (0-0-1, 1 pt.). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET, at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.

Comcast SportsNet will televise the game live, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will have the call of the game on the radio.

The Revs and Union met three times in 2013 with the Revs winning the regular-season series for the first time in club history, going 2-1-0 against the Union. The Revs have won the previous two meetings, earning a 2-0 win on April 27, 2013, followed by a 5-1 win on August 25, 2013 – both matches at Gillette Stadium.

The Revs are winless (0-3-2) in five previous trips to PPL Park and have lost the last three consecutive games at the Union’s home stadium. Forward Jack McInerney scored the game-winning goal in all three of those losses.

The two sides will meet twice more in 2014. The Revs return to PPL Park on May 17, before the clubs close out the regular-season series at Gillette Stadium on June 28.

TEAM NOTES

Setting the table for Saturday
The Revs head to Philadelphia Saturday for the first of three regular-season meetings with the Union … the two teams meet again in Philly on May 17 before wrapping up the season series at Gillette Stadium on June 28 … the Revs won the season series for the first time in club history last year, posting a 2-1-0 record in three matches … after dropping the team’s first meeting – a 1-0 loss at PPL Park – the Revs have won the teams’ last two meetings (2-0 on April 27 and 5-1 on August 25, both at Gillette Stadium).

Revs’ visits to PPL Park haunted by McInerney lately
The Revs enter Saturday’s game in Philadelphia looking for their first win at PPL Park … since the park opened in 2010, the Revs have an 0-3-2 record at the Union’s home stadium … the Revs played to a 1-1 draw in their first game at PPL Park on July 31, 2010, followed by a 4-4 shootout in the second visit on September 7, 2011 … since the two draws, the Revs have dropped their last three matches in Philadelphia, all one-goal defeats in which the Union’s Jack McInerney scored the game-winning goal late:

Date

Score

PHI game-winning goal scored

July 29, 2012

L, 2-1

JackMcInerneyin 90thminute

Oct. 6, 2012

L, 1-0

JackMcInerneyin 73rdminute

March 16, 2013

L, 1-0

JackMcInerneyin 76thminute

Keep the travel bags handy
Including Saturday’s game at Philadelphia, the Revs will play four of the first five games of the 2014 season on the road … the club opened the season in Houston last Saturday with a 4-0 loss … following the game in Philadelphia, the Revs open their home slate against Vancouver on March 22, before heading out on the road for back-to-back games at San Jose on March 29 and at D.C. on April 5.

Shuttleworth up for Save of the Week
Bobby Shuttleworth made some incredible saves in Saturday’s season-opening loss to Houston and one of them is up for MLS Save of the Week … Shuttleworth made a diving stop on Houston’s Andrew Driver that saw the keeper fully extend to his right, reach across his body with his left hand and deflect the curling shot across the goal line … voting is open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Three new Revs make debuts
The Revs had three new faces make their club debuts against Houston last Saturday … Teal Bunbury, Daigo Kobayashi and Patrick Mullins were all named to the starting XI in the season opener against the Dynamo.

Player

Pos.

Min.

Notes

Teal Bunbury

F

90

3 Shots, 1 SOG

Daigo Kobayashi

M

74

84% pass completion

Patrick Mullins

RM

45

First rookie to start in 2014

Historical night for Homegrown talent
Diego Fagundez and Scott Caldwell – the first two Homegrown players signed by the Revs - both started against Houston, marking the first time in club history that a Homegrown player started a season opener ... Fagundez - now in his fourth season – finished the 2013 season with 13 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances (28 starts), while Caldwell made 29 appearances (23 starts) and recorded two assists as a rookie last year.

Sene back in action
Despite a tough start to the 2014 season for the Revs, Saer Sene’s return to the field was certainly a bright spot last Saturday in Houston … Sene – who missed the final two regular-season games and both playoff matches in 2013 after suffering an ankle injury in Montreal on Oct. 12, 2013 – came on as a second-half substitute at right wing in the 74th minute … the left-footed winger has scored 16 goals and added eight assists in 50 appearances despite seeing his 2012 and 2013 both seasons cut short by knee and ankle injuries, respectively.

Alston returns to the right
Kevin Alston started at right back against Houston in the team’s season opener last Saturday, marking his first start at right back since August 29, 2012 in a match against Chivas USA … Alston, who was sidelined for much of 2013 after he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), made six starts last season, all at left back.

Ironman doesn’t miss a beat
Jose Goncalves – who was one of three field players to play every minute of every game last season – continued his ironman streak last Saturday in Houston … Goncalves started and played all 90 minutes at center back in the team’s loss … Goncalves has now played in 35 MLS games – all starts – and has played every minute of every game in his MLS career.

Revs waive DelPiccolo
The Revs waived midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo on Monday … DelPiccolo, 22, was selected by the Revolution in the Waiver Draft on Nov. 25, 2013, after he played half of a season with the Montreal Impact. Originally drafted by Montreal in the second round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, DelPiccolo joined Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt, before formally signing with Montreal in July. He was a four-year player at Louisville before entering the MLS draft

#BeThere322: Prep for the Revs’ home opener on March 22
Headed to the Revolution’s March 22 home opener against Vancouver Whitecaps FC? … then tag your social content with #BeThere322 to engage with the club and other fans … the Revolution will highlight stand-out postings as the home opener approaches.

Portugal and Mexico set to meet at Gillette
Before the Mexican and Portuguese national teams make their way to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, they’ll face off in an international friendly at Gillette Stadium … on June 6, Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal against Javier Hernandez and Mexico in a final tune up before the World Cup … kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m., and tickets will go on sale to the general public on February 24 at 10 a.m., and start at $40.

2014 Pub Tour final stop comes this week
The third and final Pub Tour stop has officially been rescheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12, at Ri Ra in Providence, R.I. … midfielder Scott Caldwell and defenders Kevin Alston and Andrew Farrell are all scheduled to appear … the night kicks off at 7 p.m., with the three players expected to arrive at 7:30 p.m. … there is no cover charge for the event and it is open to the general public and fans of all ages.

National Anthem auditions to be held March 19
The Revs are giving local musicians the opportunity to perform in the same venue where superstars like One Direction, George Strait and Tim McGraw will play this summer … the Revolution is looking for talented soloists, groups, instrumentalists and other unique musicians to perform the anthem for the team’s 2014 home games at Gillette Stadium … performers who wish to be considered should submit their sample performances digitally between now and 4 p.m. tomorrow – Wednesday, March 12 … a select group of performers from among those submitting samples in advance will be called back for the live final auditions, which will be held at The Lansdowne Pub (9 Lansdowne St., Boston, Mass.) on Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m. … interested performers should submit the following information to anthems@revolutionsoccer.net: